Nehanda Abiodun facts for kids

Nehanda Isoke Abiodun (born Cheri Laverne Dalton; June 29, 1950 – January 30, 2019) was an African American activist. She was known for her work in the hip hop community and for being a fugitive who lived in Cuba. The FBI wanted her in connection with events that happened in 1981. She was also linked to Assata Shakur's escape from prison.

Abiodun was involved in the New African independence movement in the U.S. She saw herself as a citizen of the Republic of New Afrika.

Early Life and Education

Cheri Dalton was born in New York City in 1950. She started her activist work with her parents when she was a child. At just ten years old, she helped organize people living in rented homes. Dalton finished her studies at Columbia University in New York in 1972.

Her Work and Activism

After leaving Columbia University, Abiodun worked at a health clinic in Harlem. She then worked at the Lincoln Detox Center. This was a special center in the South Bronx that helped people.

Life in Cuba

Around 1978, Abiodun stopped using the name Dalton. She used several other names over time, including Cheri Cotton and Betty Carter. She also used Elizabeth Carter, Laverne Dalton, and "Flame."

She lived in Havana, Cuba, starting around 1990. There, she became a well-known rap music activist. She shared her knowledge of African-American history, poetry, and world politics. She advised new Cuban hip-hop artists like Yosmel Sarrias and Maigel Entenza Jaramillo from the group Anónimo Consejo.

Abiodun believed that rap music was "the voice of protest." She said it could help people learn and organize around the world. She noted that rappers exist everywhere, from New Zealand to Timbuktu. She also said that outside the U.S., many hip-hop artists are focused on positive change.

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